A Singapore parent needs a certified set of company documents for the Indian incorporation: the ACRA business profile and certificate of incorporation, the constitution, a board resolution approving the investment, and identity and address proof for each foreign director. Private documents are notarised, and the Singapore Academy of Law issues the apostille that India accepts, since the Apostille Convention entered into force for Singapore on 16 September 2021. Start this step first because it sets the pace.
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Key facts
| Apostille authority | Singapore Academy of Law (Apostille Act 2020) |
|---|---|
| In force for Singapore | 16 September 2021; India is also a party to the Convention |
| Company records | ACRA business profile (BizFile+), certificate of incorporation, constitution, register of controllers extract |
| Approval | Board resolution authorising the investment, the subsidiary name, the director appointments and a signatory |
| Director papers | Passport copy (and NRIC for citizens and PRs), address proof, passport-size photograph |
| Validity | Indian authorities look for recent documents; address proofs usually need to be less than two months old |
| Language | English documents need no translation |
The document set for the parent
| Document | From | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| ACRA business profile with directors and shareholders | ACRA through BizFile+ | Download the latest profile; apostille the version Indian authorities will see |
| Certificate of incorporation | ACRA | Certified copy, then apostille |
| Constitution | Parent company secretary | Certified true copy by a director or company secretary, notarised, apostilled |
| Board resolution approving the Indian investment | Parent board | Signed, notarised, apostilled |
| Authority for the signatory or authorised representative | Parent board | Included in the resolution or a power of attorney |
| Latest audited financial statements, if requested by the bank | Parent | Often required by Indian banks; not always apostilled |
| Register of registrable controllers extract | Parent | Needed to explain the ownership chain to the Indian bank and to file the significant beneficial owner declaration |
Notary and apostille: how it works in Singapore
Singapore joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 16 September 2021 through the Apostille Act 2020, and the Singapore Academy of Law is the competent authority that issues Singapore apostilles. India is also a party, so the Indian authorities accept an apostilled Singapore document without consular legalisation by the Indian High Commission.
- Prepare the documents in final form and have the signatory sign before a Singapore notary public where the document is private (for example the board resolution or a power of attorney).
- Submit the notarised documents to the Singapore Academy of Law for the apostille. Allow time for the electronic submission and processing.
- Scan and courier the originals, or upload the electronic apostille if the Indian side agrees to verify it online.
- Keep the originals with the parent. The Indian incorporation agent files scanned copies with SPICe+, and the bank may ask to see originals.
Directors: identity, address and signatures
- Foreign director: passport copy, address proof, photograph and a mobile and email for DIN and DSC. A Singapore NRIC alone does not replace the passport for a foreign director on Indian forms.
- Notarisation of identity: a notary certifies that each copy is a true copy of the original, then the apostille is added.
- DSC and DIN: each proposed director needs a Digital Signature Certificate and a Director Identification Number. A foreign director's DSC usually involves a video verification or an attested form.
- Resident Director: at least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year. A Singapore parent often appoints an Indian professional or a relocating manager. See the incorporation guide.
Showing who owns the parent
Indian law asks for significant beneficial owners, meaning individuals who hold or control 10% or more of the company directly or through others. A Singapore holding company with several layers of owners should prepare an ownership chart and be ready to file Form BEN-2 within the deadline after the subsidiary is formed, and to answer bank KYC questions about the ultimate owners. Where an ultimate owner is in or a citizen of a country sharing a land border with India, Press Note 3 of 2020 can require government approval for the investment, so review ownership before you commit.
Timing
- Singapore side: allow several working days for the notary and apostille once documents are final, longer if the board needs to meet.
- Time zone: Singapore is two and a half hours ahead of India, which makes same-day signing and Indian bank calls easy.
- Rework: the most common delay is an address proof older than two months or a name on the passport that differs from the ACRA record. Fix names before notarising.
Official sources
Check the rules at the primary sources: Income Tax Department (India), Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, IRAS, ACRA and the Singapore Academy of Law (apostilles).
Frequently asked questions
What documents does a Singapore company need to incorporate a subsidiary in India?
ACRA business profile and certificate of incorporation, the constitution, a board resolution approving the investment and the director appointments, and identity and address proof for each foreign director, notarised and apostilled.
Which Singapore documents need an apostille for an Indian subsidiary, and who issues it?
The Singapore parent's ACRA business profile and certificate of incorporation, its constitution, the board resolution approving the investment, and the notarised passports and address proofs of its directors and authorised signatory all need an apostille. The Singapore Academy of Law issues apostilles under the Apostille Act 2020, after a Singapore notary public has signed the private documents. The Apostille Convention has applied to Singapore since 16 September 2021, so no Indian High Commission legalisation is needed.
Does India accept a Singapore apostille?
Yes. India and Singapore are both parties to the Apostille Convention, so an apostilled Singapore document does not need consular legalisation.
Do documents from ACRA need to be apostilled?
Ask the Indian incorporation team which documents they need. Business profiles and certificates are usually apostilled if they will be filed with the Registrar or shown to the bank.
How old can the director address proof be?
Indian authorities generally look for proof issued within the last two months. Check with your adviser before notarising.
Does a Singapore parent have to declare its beneficial owners in India?
Yes. The Indian subsidiary must identify significant beneficial owners (10% or more) and file Form BEN-2. Prepare the ownership chart early.
Related guides
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Read the guide →12 Common Mistakes Singapore Companies Make When Entering India, and How to Avoid Each
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Read the guide →Sources
Last updated 21 October 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Indian and Singapore rules change often; confirm current requirements before acting.